SEASONAL CHANGES.

IN J. BALLANTYNE & COS.

Yesterday Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co. invited the public to inspect their display of spring and summer materials and fashions at Victoria House, and as a result the premises were thronged all day. In the evening the windows were illuminated till 9 o'clock to give busier people an opportunity to see the excellent arrangement of first rate and novel goods there displayed, and there* was almost constantly an admiring crowd m front of them. Many encomiums were passed upon the general appearance of the windows, and indeed the large central window had never been more tastefully dressed. The windows, full and attractive as they were, contained but a comparatively few specimens of the wealth within. Accepting a customary invitation to look through the establishment, we did po with much pleasure. The following notes refer to only a fraction of the number of novelties we were shown. The extensive premises are crowded with goods from side to side, from front to rear, upstairs and down, and m each department. Dealing first with the materials, among the features of the season is the extent to which the popular crepon system of weaving has been applied to all classes of goods, from the light cottons to which it was applied first two or three years ago, to heavy silks, and the principle is applied m a wonderful variety of detail. A new development of the principle is shown this year, the experiment being again made m cotton fabrics. This is called " puffed " pongee. The stuff is cloßely packed with small circular bosses, which have a very pretty effect, and a still more artistic development of the principle is seen m moire" crimped prints. Among the dress goods the influence of the " New Woman " may perhaps be seen m ranges of fine dress goods, the patterns m which are imitations m miniature of men's suitings. The Scotch Bannockburn and check colours look extremely well. There is an immense range of crepon goods m all colours and material. Special mention must be made of the colonial dress tweeds. The Timaru mill furnishes some good wearing stuffs m quiet patterns, and the Kaiapoi mill similar goods m a wide choice of colours. The display of dress stuff m the show window is a textile ex hibition m itself almost. Among the samples there are some of the same fine texture and quiet greys as were accepted by the Princess of Wales from the Kaiapoi mills. The stock of standard fabrics is as large and more varied than ever, a system having been adopted m many lines of Btocking only single dress lengths, Ladiei should

find only one difficulty m suiting themselves here, and that is, m making a choice among so many good things. The fancy department, adjoining, contains among the usual lines a number of taking novelties.which will commend themselves for their beauty or their utility as the case /nay be. Among the latter must certainly be^ reckoned white chamois leather washUlle gloves. There are also a number of useful new nicknacks among the habordashery, which only need to be seen -to be appreciated, and many new and handsome materials for trimmings. A few of the novelties m the Manchester Department we have already mentioned. Others are monochrome dress drills,* which are fast ousting prints for costumes. Imitations m cotton of more costly materials are numerous and sure to take. We have not space to do more than mention the piles of flannelettes, the boys' drills; ladies' blouse goods, fine and strong shirtings, French and German muslins, and include an endless variety of stuffs nnder an "etc." In the furnishing department will be found several new things m velvet cretonnes, linen tapestries, art muslins, curtains and linoleums, and a full assortment of all lines. The millinery department upstairs is bright with the light spring and summer colours. The new hats and bonnets are a Btudy m themselves, and the wonderful ways m which the straw and chip workers manipulate their materials to produce beautiful things is simply astonishing. The artificial flowers are still more surprising for the skill displayed m their manufacture. Lady devotees of golf are provided with appropriate costumes, and every variety of fine summ.er wear for ladies and children is displayed m profusion. Mantles and cloaks m great variety occupy a considerable space, and so also do tweed costumeß. This department is replete with show room articles, and the millnery work done on the premises appears to be equal to any attainable standard. The millinery window is nicely dressed, and gives an idea of some of the novelties of the season to be found m profusion upstairs. The men's department is naturally lesa gay than the ladies' branches, though one of its two windows viea with the latter with its bright show of neckties, straws, etc. The stock within is a heavy one m suiting materials, and has never been more varied. There are notable piles oi Timaru tweeds, showing a steady advance m textures and patterns ; of Kaiapois and imported goods. The local mill is turning out stuff now with difficulty distinguishable from the same character of Scotch. We were shown a curiosity m some Isle of Harris tweeds— hand-spun, hand-woven, seaweed dyed. An enthusiastic highlander has bought the whole piece. Among the novelties are new tennis clothing, golf knickers and stockings— the latter calculated to double the golf club's membership— new straws m felt shapes and colours, and almost as flexible, club-colour hat bands to tie on, cashmere vests for the hot weather, and many new things m ties and scarves. Tor travellers nothing of the kind could be better than the Timaru rugs and the large stock of travelling bags. The stock of ready«mades for men and boys is very large, all of the firm's own careful make. . The immense stock of materials— about 2000 patterns of trouserings for instance— is being reduced as fast as possible by seven-and- twenty hands m the tailoring department, working at top speed. After a stroll through Victoria House one wonders, first, at the astonishing development of the textile manufacturing industries, and then how such quantities of materials can be disposed of among such a small population as that of South Canterbury. We were assured, however, that they will " go," and that m proof of this they are " going" at a satisfactory rate.

FURNI-

Auctioneers,